Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-05-29
EUROPEAN LETTER.
A LIGHTNING. RxPREss TRIP ON TIE
CONTINENT.
Leaving Berlin-An Old Rosd-some tx
citing historic Events Recalled
On the Adristic.


tCOrrespcudencc of uo Richmond Dispatch.l
NAPLES. April, 1897.
The long-coming spring time of Der
lin. where the sun had not shone for
weeks, made me sigh for touch OF "a
glorious climate. rs the Californian
would say. SO made up my mind to
leave the north for southern skies.
Taking the evening train for Munich,
and securing bcrthin a sleeper much
after the STYLE of the MannBoudOr
car. We reached the Bayarian capital
the next morning. where we were
changed 10 a compartment car, that
Is run 90 Ala, the first town
ON the Italian frontier. Two hours,
and We are al 'kufstcin, on Austrian
territory. Here we pass the Imperial
customs. The CIR i, searched and all
luggage examined. but my trunk was
checked through from Munich TO Ma
pies. so escaped this fate. In Ger
many most railways allow iifty-six
pounds Of baggage 70 each ticket, hut
IN Italy every pound is paid for. the
charge. however, being comparatively
small Yet there is a facility given to
the public not generally kuown-one
can send his baggage IN Italy without
holding o ticket. Where one wants TO
stop ovcrat intermediate points sight
seeing en- roHfc TO Florence, for in
stancc-orc can check the trunk
20 that city, in addition TO the GUS
tomary freight, paving small amount
for iits storage. This saved no end of
fees to poItcTs and for cab-hrc and
much care from the tourists.
An Old ROAD.
From Kupstcin the railway takes the
line of the old Runncr road. spoken
of in Roman history four centuries
before our era. The remains of many
castles to the right and left witness
bow far they carried the art OF war by
forifyiug stTatceical points. This road
has over been the connecting link be
tween Italy aud Germany, IN war or
peace. Over 1t the German Empc-
lors from Charlcmagno downward
have marched their troops 10
hold their rule in the South.
Through this great highway all the
products of the Orient passed that came
To Venice for distribution in the North,
and which trade was a monopoly OF the
Augsburg Fuggers-the foundation OF
then immense wealth.
A MEMORABLE STRUGGLE.
On TINS route in all centuries events
worthy of note have happened, but the
most famous ones will ever be those
which took place in the beginning of
ours. for here were enacted the prlnci-
pal scenes of the struggle OF handful
of loyal and undaunted mountaineers
against NAPOLEON 10 maintain the indie
ucudcucc Of their native soil for their
Austrian lord and protector, who,
afterwards in return for their
great s.lf-sacriice, true to the Haps-
burg character, only left them III the
lunch. We p4ss Schawtz ana Hall,
the scenes of cruel, bloody devastation
during THAT tins. In the mountains
b., TIE home Of SprechOachcr, the
most famous leader of these noun
taiuccrs after Aujros HOier. With the
dismal failure of the iusurrec.iou
Sprechbacher was outlawcd and eager
~ sOuEht for 10y the French. The ac-
count OF his lair-hreadth escapes are as
famousas those Of Trenk and Casanova.
For weeks he was hidden in his own
stable Ii2ht under the nose. or, rather,
toes of the soldiers quIrtered in
the house TO watch the family
closely and find cline to his
h;dinellace, hut they were In ig-
norauce Of 1t all save tine faithful
foreman Of the farm, whohad concealed
him I'D % hole under the stable floor,
where he could lie horizontally and
with Il small opening left over his face
10 breathe Upon one occasion cor
poml came near stepping upon his
nose. he finally Lott this refuge, seek
ing safety in the mountains nearly ut
tine -uoW-lue. Here he lived. now
pursued 10y cod and hunger, suffering
from wound in bis thigh. After I'M
told miscrC-. I'm months of danger. he
mauscod 10 reach Vienna, where his
services and suh,rings for his master,
the Emperor, were iudiaernty To-
quitcd uy him.